Unemployed people with heart failure are 50 percent more likely to die from the condition than employed people, according to a study from Denmark-based Copenhagen University Hospital on Sunday. About 5.7 million adults in the US suffer from heart failure, and 50 percent of people who develop the condition die within five years.
More than 20,000 heart failure patients participated in the study, which concluded that not having a job was linked to a greater likelihood of death than a history of stroke or diabetes.
"The ability to hold a job brings valuable information on well-being and performance status," said lead author Dr. Rasmus Roerth. "And workforce exclusion has been associated with increased risk of depression, mental health problems and even suicide."
The study analyzed risk of death from all causes and repeated heart failure hospitalization rates in patients with the condition - taking note of their employment status.
"In younger patients with heart failure, employment status could be a potential predictor of morbidity and mortality," Roerth explained. "If that was the case, employment status could help to risk stratify young heart failure patients and identify those needing more intensive rehabilitation."
People ages 18 to 60 who were first hospitalized for heart failure between 1997 and 2012 participated in the trial. Of the 21,455 subjects, 11,600 were employed.
Nearly three years later, 16 percent of employed and 31 percent of unemployed patients had died, while 40 percent of employed and 42 percent of unemployed patients had returned to the hospital.
"After adjusting for age, sex and education level, heart failure patients unemployed at baseline had a 50 percent increased risk of death and 12 percent increased risk of re-hospitalization for heart failure compared to those who were employed," the study said.
"Employment status is more than just a physical measurement, as it also has an influence on quality of life," Roeth said. "Thus, both from a physical and psychological point of view, it makes sense to include employment status in the evaluation of young heart failure patients' prognosis."

Unemployed people with heart failure are 50 percent more likely to die from the condition than employed people, according to a study from Denmark-based Copenhagen University Hospital on Sunday. About 5.7 million adults in the US suffer from heart failure, and 50 percent of people who develop the condition die within five years.

More than 20,000 heart failure patients participated in the study, which concluded that not having a job was linked to a greater likelihood of death than a history of stroke or diabetes.

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"The ability to hold a job brings valuable information on well-being and performance status," said lead author Dr. Rasmus Roerth. "And workforce exclusion has been associated with increased risk of depression, mental health problems and even suicide."

The study analyzed risk of death from all causes and repeated heart failure hospitalization rates in patients with the condition - taking note of their employment status.

"In younger patients with heart failure, employment status could be a potential predictor of morbidity and mortality," Roerth explained. "If that was the case, employment status could help to risk stratify young heart failure patients and identify those needing more intensive rehabilitation."

People ages 18 to 60 who were first hospitalized for heart failure between 1997 and 2012 participated in the trial. Of the 21,455 subjects, 11,600 were employed.

Nearly three years later, 16 percent of employed and 31 percent of unemployed patients had died, while 40 percent of employed and 42 percent of unemployed patients had returned to the hospital.

"After adjusting for age, sex and education level, heart failure patients unemployed at baseline had a 50 percent increased risk of death and 12 percent increased risk of re-hospitalization for heart failure compared to those who were employed," the study said.

"Employment status is more than just a physical measurement, as it also has an influence on quality of life," Roeth said. "Thus, both from a physical and psychological point of view, it makes sense to include employment status in the evaluation of young heart failure patients' prognosis."